Professional Golf Staying in Albany

Professional Golf Staying in Albany

Zach spent two seasons as the communications manager on the Symetra Tour before becoming a LPGA Tour media official in November of 2019. Prior to the LPGA, Zach was a sports anchor and reporter for two years with the NBC affiliate in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

ALBANY, N.Y. — The 16th stop on the 2019 “Road to the LPGA” will take the Symetra Tour to Capital Hills at Albany in the Empire State for the first edition of The CDPHP Open from July 26-28. Previously known as the Fuccillo Kia Classic of NY, new title sponsor Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan, Inc. (CDPHP) takes over to keep women’s professional golf in the Capital Region for a 35th consecutive year.

“Bringing back the Symetra Tour to Capital Hills for a 16th year was a major goal for 2019 and I am excited to team with CDPHP,” said Jim Miller, the Tournament Director for The CDPHP Open. “They are a leader in providing quality health care in the Capital Region and support for our tournament since it was brought to Albany in 2004. Hosting 144 professional golfers from all over the world for well over a decade now has allowed us to showcase some of the best golf this region has ever seen. I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished and look forward to continuing this great tradition we created.”

From 1984-1998, the event was contested at Town of Colonie Golf Course in Schenectady before a one-year hiatus. Then it spent two years each at Western Turnpike Golf Course and Orchard Creek Golf Club, before settling in at Capital Hills at Albany Golf Course for good in 2004.

In addition to the announcement of CDPHP as the title sponsor, CDPHP The Foundation will serve as the benefitting charity for the 2019 tournament.

“We’re thrilled to support The CDPHP Open and the Symetra Tour’s long-standing tradition of bringing golfers out to engage in some healthy competition—and exercise, too,” said John D. Bennett, MD, president and CEO of CDPHP. “I am also especially thankful that CDPHP The Foundation will benefit from the event’s proceeds to further promote health, wellness, and education in our community.”

Greeting the 144-player field in the capital of New York is a total purse of $125,000. Individuals are set to compete in a 54-hole stroke play format with a cut to the low 60 players and ties after 36 holes.

Action gets underway at 7:30 a.m. ET all three days with first and second round play on Friday and Satur­day featuring groups of three heading off No. 1 and No. 10 tees. On Sunday, twosomes will begin on No. 1 tee with a trophy ceremony to follow the completion of the final round.

“We are grateful to CDPHP for stepping in to serve as the title sponsor of this great event,” said Mike Nichols, the Chief Business Officer of the Symetra Tour. “Albany has been a part of the Symetra Tour schedule for 35 years now, and we are looking forward to adding to the event’s history.”